Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-07-02


abig man.
Marshal Maratta has not arrived here,
although he has been expected for some
days past. He is to come on business
connected with his Office.
The Washington weather OF the past
week has been the most delightful ever
known at this season. 1t was preceded
with intense heat and living was almost
an impossibility within the city limits.
The hundreds of thousands of miles of
asphalt pavement absorbed the heat
and refracted it. Slight rains only re-
suited in dense steam and greater heat.
But a few days ago we had a veritable
western storm. 1t was repeated daily
until every inch o fpavement was cooled
off and the surrounding country re.
ceived a thorough soaking. Conse-
quently the city is of the right tempera-
ture, and life is worth Lying. The trees
are the shadiest in the country, being
broad as well as high, and every street
is a park.
The rumor that Secretary Lamar will
be appointed to the justiceship on the
supreme court is we'll founded. 1t is
generally understood that he will be SO
appointed, and that he will accept. The
problem now is to ascertain who will be
his successor. Among other names
prominently mentioned is that of An
drew jackson Sparks. Mi. Sparks il
the commissioner of the general land
Office, and his name is not entirely I'M
familiar to Dakota readers. He has
had over two years experience in deal
ing in land matters, the principal bureau
of the interior department and his
friends believe that he would be the
most efficient secretary rel appointed
to control the interior department. His
we'll known sympathy with the settlers
in their efforts to secure homes, would
enable him to accomplish a great deal
of good, especially for the northwest. I
have no doubts but that the people of
Dakota would be greatly %rejoiced to
learn Of his elevation to the position of
secretary Of the interior. Send on your
petitions to the president, and have it
done.
The recent Dakota cyclone has been
greatly inflated and exaggerated by the
eastern papers. They have described
Grand Forks as the center of a bowling
wilderness where cyclones and billiards.
vie with Indians and prairie dogs in
claiming the desert waste. One paper
publishes what is supposed to be q fun
ny article under the heading "Go wesi
young man, and grow up with the
country" The writer describes what
pleasure you can have out there fighting
billiards. in winter, cyclones in summe
and Indians all the year round. 1t is
the work of such tenderfeet which tends
to injure the territory. Ignorance gets
on its Pegasus and Frances all ovcr the
editorial pages of alleged intelligent
newspapers. The terrific storms which
submerge Cincinnati, Wheeling and
other Ohio river towns, never seem to
affect the prejudiced eastern mind Of
the average scribbler for the Atlantic
coast papers.
1t is true that the president and his
secretary of war are o rather cool
terms since the battle flag incident. That
official is not blameless in the matter.
1t was his duty to have Investigated the
subject in all its legal bearings before he
made any recommendation. The pres.
ident is said to be really and truly mad
at him.
The changes in the salaries of the Da.
kota presidential postmasters, tele.
graphed q few days ago to daily papers,
indicates a degree of prosperity in the
postal business which is gratifying
True, some of the Offices have fallen of
IN their salaries, but the majority OF
them have increased. Rapid City and
Aberdeen stand at the head of the list
These changes point to increased bust
ness of all kinds in the empire. The
recent issues Of territorial bonds are also
good mercantile baremeters. The pub
lie credit is good, and we'll it may be.
There are some inanciers of an inquir
ing turn of mind who are looking into
the future seeking for possible compli
cations. The question is asked by them
''what will be done IN the matter of pay
ing these bonds if the territory is divid
edf" They cite the cas- of old Virginia
on whom the entire ante.war debt of tn,
original state is saddled ; while Western
Virginia, which helped make the debt
is divided off and has nothing to pay
The question is, if South Dakota be
comes state, aud North Dakota re
mains a territory, will not the territory
or the north half of 1t, be obliged to pa!
all Of the indebtedness now made
There is AZ problem for the auditor
treasurer, governor, and all the othe